Can i say they could have gone the caricature-ish way with their characters and been SUPER cringey, like the Playful Kiss/ ItaKiss series....but they didnt! YAY ^^ Ultimate proof that a tropey-setup isn't always so cringey, if written well! So far, very veryyyy *cute* :D
I used to think that too but I think there are strengths and weaknesses for both C-dramas and K-dramas. I hope…
hahaha!....i think most watchers agree on the koreans doing modern romance better, whereas the chinese doing historical costume dramas better xD
also, what an apt comparison with the 'rooms' analogy!... i admit, while i am tempted to clear off my watch-list and tend to pick k-dramas as result (with their shorter lengths at 16 episodes)....they seem a bit formulaic to me now. but then again, they have indeed figured out what works for them the best, and stick to it, so that means lesser chances to go wrong! :D you are absolutely right, each has it's own appeal. the secret is to find your poison! <3
Advice for c-drama beginners: (I wrote this in reply to a user, but am reposting parts of it here as it might…
I agree, because the side-characters on lengthier dramas can now exist as part of an ensemble, instead of just providing advice or creating tension to move the plot forward! Everybody has a backstory and set character motivations. To unravel characters over the span of 50 episodes, is quite an experience! <3
A+ on the recommendations!!...Those are excellent starter-dramas, i must admit! :D Special shout-out to AvenueX's YouTube channel, she is a serious reviewer i pick up most of my recommendations from. Her critique often include detailed analysis of cinematography and script-writing, and her watch-list is a good place to start! <3
Here are a few extra pointers: 1. wonky CGI: usually comically funny, even in the high-budget dramas. Xianxia is mostly shot on green-screen and the background/ setting is digitally added in post-production. the wire-cable stunts also requires a little getting used to.
2. sweet spot: lengthier dramas (around the 50+ episode mark) usually require some 'warming up' to, before getting into the meat of the plot. may happen with a few hyped dramas too, which don't kick off until the early tween episodes. don't be discouraged! :)
3. lengthy dramas: dramas earn on a per-episode basis. you can expect a min. of 24 episodes at least, with historical ones running upto 50-70 episodes! this may also mean a very thick plot. or just a lot of fillers. or both. :P
4. idol dramas: no, this does not mean k-pop or c-pop group idols starring in the drama. it means 'idol'-like actors (which have massive stardom, and comparable name & fame) are the lead actors. the plots can run the risk of being a bit meh, as focus lies mostly on the star actor/(s) instead.
5. platforms and cable channels: iQiyi, WeTv, Youko and MangoTv are webplatforms. cable tv are zhejiang, shenzhen, etc.
6. type of dramas: web-dramas are usually low-budget, that do not undergo strict censorship. cable-tv dramas go through strict censorship and are higher-budget. There are few 'artistic ventures' by platforms like iQiyi, which strictly make 'quality dramas' meant NOT to earn money, but for existing as excellent pieces of drama. These can thus, afford to be a tighter script and screenplay (8, 10 or 12 episodes). Bad kids and the 'light on' series is a recent example!
7. Acting: heard from friends coming from k-dramaland, acting in c-dramas is a bit weird. yes, there are distinctly 2 categories of actors here. the 'idol kind' that generate a lot of traffic, and quick money, and are usually type-casted in the roles they pick. they can even be in their mid-30's now. some of them have really wooden acting, unless they can be directed well. the other class is 'serious actors' which pick only choicest of scripts, (and usually do movies). Then there is a third kind, which is trying to shift from 'idol' projects to more serious ones. There are exceptions to the first category of 'idol actors' though, where a handful of them ARE good actors too. This is unlike k-dramaland, where even the most 'popular' of actors do more than a decent job, and take their craft very, very seriously.
8. traffic: drama airing schedules can be unpredictable (drop an announcement just ONE day prior to official release). oftentimes a flood of projects from an actor with a recently standout project will keep dropping, to cash-in on the fame. while your favorite actor's drama can be shelved for months, if not years.
9. voice actors and identify: after watching a lot of dubbed c-dramas, you will be able to identify the set of 5-6 voice actors that always dub characters. it is a bit jarring, but again, it's an advance drama watcher's problem! :)
10. hallyu ban: some projects with k-stars have been shelved post hallyu ban. this includes many famus names such as Park minyoung, Lee jong suk, and Ji chang wook.
Great article!I have never watched a Chinese drama, so this article was very much needed. Thank you very much!I…
C-dramas rake in money 'per-episode'. So their stories can be a bit bloated up, and the shorter ones usually run around 24 episodes min. Which means more fillers than your set 16-episode k-dramas, and shorter 10/12 episode j-doramas. (if that is what you mean by 'great') But honestly, nobody does historical-costume dramas on the scale of the chinese! Dramas with better production values with killer cinematography look as beautiful ink-paintings, and i truly believe that is their true strength!~ Also, historical costumes in accordance to 'eras' is drastically different. it is a visual treat to watch those!
It's a bit unrelated, but I googled the actresses mentioned in this article, and couldn't help but notice their…
first of all, Chinese actresses tend to be 'narrower' than most of their Korean and some of their Japanese counterparts, which is why it can give you the illusion that they are 'tinier'. They run an average of 2 inches lesser in body measurements, and atleast one dress-size smaller. I also know of 'super tall' male actors, who get inches knocked off their resume, just because it doesn't 'look good' and is harder to find female co-stars who'd look 'complementary' on screen. (esp ones above the 190cm mark!) I know for a fact, C-dramas aren't obsessed with height difference (i.e. finding 20cms+ difference between co-stars as 'cute'). Also, the box-thingy (where a shorter female star stands on a box/crate to fit into the frame with her taller male costar...) they don't use that very often in c-dramas! (as seen from behind-the-scenes)!
Everything is cool with this drama except that Nao/Sakura kept literally breaking down whenever she's with the…
About exhibit A and B, she cowers in fear not from the matron but because she has issues with the colour red (as in the nailpolish on the Mom's fingers from A) and tsubaki-flowers (camellia flowers that feature on the kimono in B)....though exhibit C was unrealistic as hell!...Like lady, if Tsubaki didnt offer to marry you, what was your revenge-plan exactly? xD
Anyone have an estimate of when this show will most likely be fully subtitled?
Official Subs will be out on 31st Oct (the blue markings on the Airing Schedule image released by Youko, put up on MDL).... I do not know if fans are subbing from RAWS earlier than the official subtitled releases, put out by Youku though! :/ :/
Hi, thanks for the great info :)Do you still know where you read the interview in wich the Sep. 12 incident was…
I agree with Bella Anne!... Even i read somewhere, the show was inspired a real-time accident that landed a lady in North Korea via the sea. And only later, was it changed to a freak 'paraglider incident' + tornado, inpired by Ewa's and the sea-route idea was dropped instead!.....the idea of the script was pretty old.!
Guess, stewing on an idea till you can execute it convincingly, does have its benefits :) Also, thanks to @Bella Anne for providing the sources :) :)
What a beautiful yukata and wagashi... and honestly, after i watched the last episode, i just can't hate tsubaki's…
Can we appreciate the detail, she started addressing her son as 'Tsubaki-san', when he was blowing bubbles as a 5-year old?! This was likely when Nao and her mother landed up in Kougetsu An; and she would have sensed the truth behind Nao's parentage. No wonder she went all competitive mode on her son, and started grooming a toddler to take over the sweet-shop!.... She wasn't the unfeeling mother since day-1. External stuff made her like that :(
1 
Ultimate proof that a tropey-setup isn't always so cringey, if written well!
So far, very veryyyy *cute* :D
*crying happy tears now*
also, what an apt comparison with the 'rooms' analogy!...
i admit, while i am tempted to clear off my watch-list and tend to pick k-dramas as result (with their shorter lengths at 16 episodes)....they seem a bit formulaic to me now. but then again, they have indeed figured out what works for them the best, and stick to it, so that means lesser chances to go wrong! :D
you are absolutely right, each has it's own appeal. the secret is to find your poison! <3
Special shout-out to AvenueX's YouTube channel, she is a serious reviewer i pick up most of my recommendations from. Her critique often include detailed analysis of cinematography and script-writing, and her watch-list is a good place to start! <3
Here are a few extra pointers:
1. wonky CGI: usually comically funny, even in the high-budget dramas. Xianxia is mostly shot on green-screen and the background/ setting is digitally added in post-production. the wire-cable stunts also requires a little getting used to.
2. sweet spot: lengthier dramas (around the 50+ episode mark) usually require some 'warming up' to, before getting into the meat of the plot. may happen with a few hyped dramas too, which don't kick off until the early tween episodes. don't be discouraged! :)
3. lengthy dramas: dramas earn on a per-episode basis. you can expect a min. of 24 episodes at least, with historical ones running upto 50-70 episodes! this may also mean a very thick plot. or just a lot of fillers. or both. :P
4. idol dramas: no, this does not mean k-pop or c-pop group idols starring in the drama. it means 'idol'-like actors (which have massive stardom, and comparable name & fame) are the lead actors. the plots can run the risk of being a bit meh, as focus lies mostly on the star actor/(s) instead.
5. platforms and cable channels: iQiyi, WeTv, Youko and MangoTv are webplatforms. cable tv are zhejiang, shenzhen, etc.
6. type of dramas: web-dramas are usually low-budget, that do not undergo strict censorship. cable-tv dramas go through strict censorship and are higher-budget. There are few 'artistic ventures' by platforms like iQiyi, which strictly make 'quality dramas' meant NOT to earn money, but for existing as excellent pieces of drama. These can thus, afford to be a tighter script and screenplay (8, 10 or 12 episodes). Bad kids and the 'light on' series is a recent example!
7. Acting: heard from friends coming from k-dramaland, acting in c-dramas is a bit weird. yes, there are distinctly 2 categories of actors here. the 'idol kind' that generate a lot of traffic, and quick money, and are usually type-casted in the roles they pick. they can even be in their mid-30's now. some of them have really wooden acting, unless they can be directed well. the other class is 'serious actors' which pick only choicest of scripts, (and usually do movies). Then there is a third kind, which is trying to shift from 'idol' projects to more serious ones. There are exceptions to the first category of 'idol actors' though, where a handful of them ARE good actors too. This is unlike k-dramaland, where even the most 'popular' of actors do more than a decent job, and take their craft very, very seriously.
8. traffic: drama airing schedules can be unpredictable (drop an announcement just ONE day prior to official release). oftentimes a flood of projects from an actor with a recently standout project will keep dropping, to cash-in on the fame. while your favorite actor's drama can be shelved for months, if not years.
9. voice actors and identify: after watching a lot of dubbed c-dramas, you will be able to identify the set of 5-6 voice actors that always dub characters. it is a bit jarring, but again, it's an advance drama watcher's problem! :)
10. hallyu ban: some projects with k-stars have been shelved post hallyu ban. this includes many famus names such as Park minyoung, Lee jong suk, and Ji chang wook.
But honestly, nobody does historical-costume dramas on the scale of the chinese! Dramas with better production values with killer cinematography look as beautiful ink-paintings, and i truly believe that is their true strength!~
Also, historical costumes in accordance to 'eras' is drastically different. it is a visual treat to watch those!
I also know of 'super tall' male actors, who get inches knocked off their resume, just because it doesn't 'look good' and is harder to find female co-stars who'd look 'complementary' on screen. (esp ones above the 190cm mark!)
I know for a fact, C-dramas aren't obsessed with height difference (i.e. finding 20cms+ difference between co-stars as 'cute'). Also, the box-thingy (where a shorter female star stands on a box/crate to fit into the frame with her taller male costar...) they don't use that very often in c-dramas! (as seen from behind-the-scenes)!
I do not know if fans are subbing from RAWS earlier than the official subtitled releases, put out by Youku though! :/ :/
Even i read somewhere, the show was inspired a real-time accident that landed a lady in North Korea via the sea. And only later, was it changed to a freak 'paraglider incident' + tornado, inpired by Ewa's and the sea-route idea was dropped instead!.....the idea of the script was pretty old.!
Guess, stewing on an idea till you can execute it convincingly, does have its benefits :)
Also, thanks to @Bella Anne for providing the sources :) :)
She wasn't the unfeeling mother since day-1. External stuff made her like that :(